By: Chris Joseph | fox8live.com | November 24, 2025
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A Fox 8 investigation found the Orleans Parish Civil District Court paid $206,988.45 to send judges to conferences since 2021.
Orleans Parish court records show Chief Judge Nicole Sheppard led all other judges in travel reimbursements from 2021-25, with $40,189.38.
The records show Sheppard’s most expensive trip cost the public $5,238.77. It involved an eight-day trip to Hawaii for a September 2023 conference.
Records show Sheppard’s publicly funded conference travels also include Minneapolis, Las Vegas, New York City and California’s Napa Valley, among others.
The court reimbursed 21 judges for conference travel since 2021. Judge Kern Reese came in second in travel spending with $21,163.85.
The money comes from a court fund which can be used for other operations around the courthouse.
Records from the September 2023 Hawaii conference show fellow Orleans Parish Civil Court Judges Bernadette D’Souza and Ethel Simms Julien attended the same conference as Sheppard. But the records show they shared a hotel room and stayed fewer nights.
D’Souza charged the court $2,457.24 and Julien $1,943.12. Each billed taxpayers less than half of Sheppard’s expenses ($5,238.77) for the same conference.
Metropolitan Crime Commission president Rafael Goyeneche said the difference shows the disparity between Sheppard and her colleagues.
“I believe that Judge Shepherd could have spent $2,400 and probably walked away with the same amount of knowledge as the judge that went and spent $2,400 on travel,” he said.
The trips were legal and the Louisiana Supreme Court requires judges to obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) hours. Judges can obtain those credit hours through online courses or conferences.
The 2023 Hawaii conference offered classes on technology, domestic violence and artificial intelligence.
Goyeneche said the reimbursements should raise questions about whether the Louisiana Supreme Court should adjust its cap on travel per fiscal year, which currently sits at $15,000.
Lower courts can set tighter limits, but a spokesperson for the Orleans Parish Civil District Court confirmed the court has not.
“I don’t know if you need to spend $15,000 to remain to remain competent in your responsibility as a judge,” Goyeneche said.
Fox 8’s analysis of reimbursement records show Sheppard never exceeded the $15,000 travel cap.
Sheppard declined an interview, but sent Fox 8 a statement that said, “… It’s essential for our profession that judges and lawyers share ideas, new concepts, and developments in the law. This interaction not only builds on the strength of our judiciary but also helps me gain additional knowledge and best practices to assist all litigants that come before the court while keeping up-to-date with changes in the law.
“I’ve had the chance to learn and share practices aimed at making my court more effective and efficient. … It’s important to note that I’ve adhered to the guidelines set forth by the Louisiana Supreme Court. My CLE travel was authorized in accordance with these guidelines and was entirely legal and ethical.
“I am dedicated to shaping the future of our profession and promoting a collaborative environment among legal professionals through education. I stand firm on serving the people of the State of Louisiana with professionalism, excellence, and integrity.”
Reese also responded to Fox 8 with a statement, which said, “This story may well be perceived as disingenuous. I have followed the guidelines promulgated by the Louisiana State Supreme Court for the last 25 years. My travel authorized by the guidelines is neither illegal, impermissible or unethical.”
State Rep. Jerome Zeringue (R-Houma) unsuccessfully pushed a bill in 2023 that would have further restricted judicial travel reimbursements. He described Sheppard’s taxpayer-funded travel as “excessive.”
Zeringue said the current travel cap should be studied.
“I think we can continue to work — and reasonable people will continue to look at this and agree — that we can come to some consensus in how we address this fairly,” he said.
Lawmakers don’t return to Baton Rouge until next spring.